as in cowed
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as in intimidated
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
the judge warned the attorney that hectoring the witness with aggressive questioning would not be allowed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hectored
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Jason Sudeikis, Robert Smigel, and George Wendt hectored Kelce to (1) make Taylor pony up for a new stadium and (2) propose already.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hectored
Verb
-
The news release said that the 31-year-old man harassed, threatened, and intimidated the 11 women — who were from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iowa and New York — in person, through social media, his podcast, text messages and phone calls.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Iowa made sure of that by never backing down and never being intimidated by Florida’s superior size, stature and fan support in Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Audiences who endured the Miramax era have been browbeaten to believe that the best picture Oscar should go to a period piece that chokes out a sob from audiences.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Not to the extent that the user is necessarily being browbeaten.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
We just got bullied to the basket.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
And your husband should not have allowed himself to be bullied by his brother into sending a second present.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
According to Ehrman, Jesus’s teachings universalized earlier Jewish ethics by extending the duty to care for the poor, oppressed, and needy beyond one’s own community to include all people.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Again and again, American planners have assumed that if the right spark is provided, oppressed people will seize the moment and revolt.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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Facing cameras and a swath of media in her tiny hometown, Long Rife was not frightened by the prospect of moving cross-country.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Add crushed tomatoes and water.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Top with more crushed ice, then drizzle the crème de mûre on top.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Setting expectations for a downtrodden player’s next season isn’t always easy, even when there’s an explanation for the statistical dropoff.—
Al Melchior,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Wonder if there's a former Alabama defensive coach looking to be a coordinator for a downtrodden NFC East franchise.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hectored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hectored. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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